Shaheen Shah Afridi: “Naseem and I try to get early breakthroughs”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Pakistan left-arm seamer, has admitted that it is up to him and Naseem Shah to get early wickets.
Afridi and Naseem are Pakistan’s go-to fast bowlers in all three formats and have been in good form over the past couple of months.
With Naseem back in action after a shoulder injury sidelined him for a lengthy period of time, Afridi noted that he and the 21-year-old will have to start getting quick wickets early on, especially during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Naseem and I try to get early breakthroughs,” he told AFP as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Afridi took eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.
Naseem, meanwhile, finished with two wickets in three matches at an average of 35.50 and an economy rate of 10.14.
The men in green then played three T20Is against Ireland, with Afridi picking up seven wickets at an average of 12.71 and an economy rate of 7.41.
As for Naseem, he claimed two wickets in two matches at an average of 36.50 and an economy rate of 9.12.
Most recently, Pakistan took on England in a four-match T20I series and Afridi snapped up three wickets in two games at an average of 18.66 and an economy rate of eight, while Naseem went wicketless.
Pakistan will now be in action in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is taking place in the West Indies and United States of America.
The men in green’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed